Introduction
With the latest generation of mobile Intel CPUs, manufacturers were quick to leverage these amazing chips in a new array of powerful laptops. These new designs truly push the envelope in terms of mobile gaming experience. However, with how competitive the laptop market is, choosing the perfect laptop can be difficult.
That is why in this roundup we’ve picked out some of the most interesting and best-value laptops utilising Intel’s 13th-Gen Raptor Lake CPUs. These models vary heavily in price, performance, and other key specs. However, we’ve broken down exactly how each one differs, to ensure that consumers can find a laptop that perfectly fits their needs and budget.
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Our Recommendations
1. Acer Nitro 16
👑 The best budget 13th-Gen laptop.
Introduction
As one of more well-known laptop manufacturers, Acer have put together a number of great products based on Intel 13th-Gen silicon. Their Acer Nitro line, which is often more budget-oriented, naturally benefit greatly from the additional performance and efficiency provided by these CPUs.
The Acer Nitro 16 however is one of their most well-known units of this generation, thanks to providing a great balance of power and price. With a Core i5 CPU and an RTX 4050 mobile graphics card, it offers more than adequate performance at its price. Despite its low cost, it still provides many stand-out features, such as its 2560×1600 display and plentiful IO. However, there are certainly many compromises which also greatly limit the usability of the system in modern applications. The low base memory, alongside the small boot drive, can certainly bring down the overall experience of using this otherwise great laptop.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Acer Nitro 16 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 13500H |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile |
| RAM | 8GB DDR5-5200MHz |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 16-inch, 2560×1600, 165Hz, IPS |
| IO | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ-45, 1x Micro SD, 1x Audio jack, 1x Power port |
Things We Like
Good IO: The Acer Nitro 16 has a fantastic mix of IO for the price. The two USB ports are a key standout, something that is very rare at this price-point. There are also plenty of additional ports that help create a very versatile and easy to use laptop.
Affordable: Given its lower-end specs, the price of the Acer Nitro 16 is also much more accessible than for laptops with more high-end components. As such, for consumers on a very tight budget, it’s a great way to experience the performance of 13th-Gen Intel CPUs and RTX 40-series graphics cards without spending too much money.
Things We Don’t Like
Only 8GB of RAM: The 8GB of memory on this model is a very large bottleneck in 2023, where 16GB is the bare minimum. Whilst users can upgrade the memory further themselves, the default configuration does come with a large performance penalty in almost all tasks.
Only 512GB SSD: Given the modern-day storage requirements of games and other larger files, the mere 512GB SSD is greatly limiting from the start. Naturally, additional storage can be added later, however for the price, it is certainly a large downside of this model.
Summary
As a more entry-level option in terms of gaming laptops, the Acer Nitro 16 is still a very good choice, as it still provides plentiful performance thanks to its Core i5 13500H and RTX 4050 Mobile. However, there are certainly many compromises which will quickly begin to affect most users, be it the low amount of storage or RAM. Whilst the great display and IO selections are great to see, they certainly feel almost out of place given how budget other aspects of the laptop are.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 3.3/5
Value for Money: 3.8/5
Pros
- Good IO.
- Very affordable.
- Great screen.
Cons
- Only 8GB of RAM.
- Small SSD.
Where to Buy
Buy the Acer Nitro 16 on:
2. MSI Vector GP77
👑The overall 13th-Gen laptop.
The MSI Vector GP77 is very much on-par in terms of what to expect from an MSI laptop. The 13th-Gen Core i7 CPU, alongside the powerful mobile RTX 4070 are a fantastic pairing for what is the best display in this entire roundup. However, while the performance and the screen are the highlights of this model, other areas haven’t been neglected either. With good storage options and expansion availability, and the very solid IO, come together to deliver a fantastic mobile experience for anyone who purchases the GP77.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI Vector GP77 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13700H |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5-5200MHz |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 17-inch, 2560×1440, 240Hz, IPS |
| IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3x USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Mini-DisplayPort, 1x RJ45, 1x audio jack |
Things We Like
Fast GPU: The mobile variant of the RTX 4070 included with the MSI Vector GP77 is a highly-capable GPU. With 8GB of VRAM and very impressive boost clocks for a mobile chip, this graphics card is perfectly suited for a great mobile gaming experience.
Great screen: The display bundled with the MSI Vector GP77 is truly incredible for a laptop. The 17-inch, QHD panel is further enhanced by the fast 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring the best of both resolution and the smoothness of the image. The included CPU and GPU are an ideal combo to drive such a powerful mobile display.
Things We Don’t Like
Only one USB-C: Despite it being a higher calibre laptop, it does still only feature a single USB-C port, which given the growing popularity of the connector, could be an issue for some consumers. Whilst the lack of USB 4 capability is also disappointing, it’s something many consumers may not even find an important factor when choosing a new laptop anyway.
16:9 aspect ratio: Whilst the large 17-inch QHD display is certainly impressive, it sadly doesn’t feature the 16:10 aspect ratio more commonly found in laptops. This reduces the overall size of the screen compared to most other laptops on the market which employs this aspect ratios to give users even more space.
Summary
The MSI Vector GP77 is a perfectly balanced laptop in terms of the specs it offers for its price. The 6+8-core CPU, alongside the powerful mobile RTX 4070, are a perfect pairing for high resolution display boasting a highly impressive 240Hz refresh rate. The IO selection, whilst only adequate, will still provide users with more than enough options. Taken as a whole, it’s certainly one of the most compromise-free laptops of its type.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.3/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Uses RTX 4070.
- Very high-end display
- Capable of handling modern games.
Cons
- Only offers one USB type-C port.
- Lower aspect ratio compared to other options.
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI Vector GP77 on:
3. Lenovo L0Q 16IRH8
👑 The best value 13th-Gen laptop.
Introduction
Lenovo is another very large and well-known name in the laptop market. Featuring many great models powered by Intel’s 13th-Gen CPUs, the Lenovo L0Q 16IRH8 is one of the most interesting ones, covering a particular corner of the market which the other laptops in this roundup may not.
Despite being a more budget offering, the Core i7-grade CPU at the heart of it is great to see. What’s more, the RTX 4050 also present inside provides great performance at the price in games and other workloads. There are however many areas in which the lower price does show reflect in terms of the features, such as the incredibly low-end screen, or the mere 512GB SSD. Whilst these will certainly detract from the overall experience this laptop offers, it still holds a somewhat strong value proposition.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Lenovo LOQ 16IRH8 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13620H |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5-5600MHz |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 16-inch, 1920×1200, 144Hz, IPS |
| IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x RJ45, 1x audio jack |
Things We Like
Fast memory: The 5600MHz DDR5 memory is by far the fastest of any laptop in this roundup. It will delivery much better overall system responsive, and a great addition for any memory-intensive tasks.
1080p webcam: Over the past few years we have seen an increased need for high-quality laptop webcams. Whilst many manufactures still employ 720p cameras, Lenovo bundled a FHD one with their Lenovo L0Q 16IRH8. This is a huge upgrade for anyone intending to use their laptop’s built-in camera often, be it for meetings or recording.
Things We Don’t Like
Lower-end display: Compared to other models at a similar price, the 1920×1200 display is certainly disappointing, especially when combined with the mere 144Hz refresh rate. Whilst this is a decent enough combination with the GPU, other laptops employing the same components do manage to include a high resolution or higher refresh rate screen as well.
Small SSD: The small 512GB SSD is very restrictive in this day and age, especially given the sizes of many contemporary games. A 1TB primary drive has been the standard on most computers for many years now, so the step backwards to just half a terabyte is confusing.
Summary
Featuring an adequate mix of great performance and and other solid specs, the Lenovo L0Q 16IRH8 is a great laptop for consumers looking for a more budget model. Whilst the display and small drive do detract from it, this is a somewhat understandable decision, given the price. However, whilst the SSD can be upgraded, the display cannot, meaning consumers are left with a rather underwhelming screen for a CPU and GPU combo which could provide a much better gaming experience.
Features: 3.5/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 3.8/5
Value for Money: 3.8/5
Pros
- Fast RAM.
- FHD webcam.
- Relatively affordable.
Cons
- Low-end display
- Only 512GB SSD.
Where to Buy
Buy the Lenovo L0Q 16IRH8 on:
4. ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ
👑 The best performing 13th-Gen laptop.
Introduction
ASUS ROG laptops are quickly becoming very well-known for their high-end specs and their very stylish aesthetic. These two things are certainly present throughout the ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ, one of their latest offerings features both an Intel 13th-Gen CPU and an NVIDIA RTX 40-series graphics card.
As is to be expected, it offers great performance due to both the high-end graphics card and CPU, which do certainly come at a cost. What’s more, it’s also one of the first laptops of its type to provide USB 4 support. However, several of the components choices for this model are somewhat confusing. Despite its high-end nature, it features by far the slowest DDR5 memory kit of any of the laptops featured in this article. What’s more, despite offering a configuration perfect for gaming at higher resolutions, the FHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate certainly won’t take full advantage of the included mobile RTX 4080.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13650HX |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5-4800MHz |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 16-inch, 1920×1200, 165Hz, IPS |
| IO | 1x USB 4 Type-C, 1x USB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ45, 1x audio jack |
Things We Like
Fast graphics card: With the RTX 4080 Mobile, the ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ manages to beat out all other laptops in this roundup in terms of performance. This highly capable card with 12GB of VRAM is more than capable at tackling even the most demanding games currently available. It also ensures the laptop performs great in other workloads as well.
Good IO: This model from ASUS is the only one in this roundup to make use of a USB 4/Thunderbolt 4 port, ideal for high-speed connectivity. The additional three USB-A ports, and plentiful other ports, ensure that additional adapters or dongles shouldn’t be necessary for most users.
Things We Don’t Like
Slow RAM: The fast 13650HX CPU is somewhat bottleneck by the slowest DDR5 memory we have seen so far in this roundup. The included 4800MHz RAM, whilst still plenty fast, it doesn’t provide the same performance advantage that faster modules are capable of.
Low-resolution display: Despite the fast graphics card being ideal for gaming at higher resolutions, the 1920×1200 FHD display is a very odd combination for a graphics card such as the RTX 4080. What’s more, the 165Hz refresh rate can be easily exceeded by this GPU.
Summary
ASUS manufactures very impressive laptops as part of their ROG line-up, and their ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ is no exception. The mostly great specs, combined with the best overall design, makes it a clear standout in this competitive market. Its greatest drawback, the lower-end screen, does certainly harm the appeal of this model, especially considering the very high-end GPU it ships with.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.8/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Pros
- Uses RTX 4080.
- USB 4 port.
- Great design.
Cons
- Slow DDR5 memory.
- FHD display.
Where to Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG STRIX G16 G614JZ on:
What Performance Can You Expect From These Laptops?
Naturally, laptops will never offer as much performance as a desktop PC, given the thermal and power constraints. However, current-gen laptops still provide more than enough power for even more demanding games.
Laptops use mobile, sometimes also referred to as Max-Q, variants of desktop graphics cards. As such, even if the two products might share the same name, they do feature different core counts, memory configurations, and boost clocks. As such, a mobile version of an RTX 4080 for example will perform significantly worse than the desktop equivalent.
However, laptop graphics cards, especially current-gen offerings, still offer more than enough performance for a mobile gaming machine. Recommended in-game graphical settings for laptops highly depend on the game and the specs of the laptop, especially the graphics card. As such, consumers will most likely have to experiment with what balance of quality settings and framerate works best for them.
As many modern gaming laptops feature refresh rates well above 60Hz, manufacturers certainly expect to see consumers hitting these high framerates in simpler competitive and esports titles, where a smooth gaming experience and frequent updates to the action matter the most.
Is a Powerful Mobile System Worth it Over a PC?
Having a powerful laptop that allows consumers to play games or work on compute-intensive projects on the go, can be a great convenience, especially if travelling frequently. Whilst there are naturally compromises compared to a desktop experience, modern laptops do go above and beyond to minimise them. With many modern laptops featuring a 16-inch or larger screen, this size is the perfect middle-ground between portability and adequate space to see everything in fine detail.
This screen real estate is expanded further by the fact that most laptops feature a 16:10 aspect ratio, compared to the 16:9 of most desktop displays. This additional space is fantastic for both gaming and productivity. IO is something that for many years has also been limited on laptops, but has been slowly catching up to desktop PCs.
The USB ports are becoming more bountiful and faster, with each passing generation, however we’re still not at the level of the IO of a standard motherboard. What’s more, additional ports, such as HDMI for additional displays, RJ-45 for ethernet, and a combo audio jack, are almost always present by default, removing the inconvenience of carrying around adapters and dongles.
Naturally, one of the largest disadvantages is the upgradability. Be it a faster GPU or CPU for additional performance, more storage, or other expansion, upgradeability is very limited on most modern laptops. As such, over time, consumers may find themselves with worse performance in newer titles, with little to alleviate the issue without buying a whole new laptop.
Due to the highly integrated nature of a laptop, they often also cost significantly more for the same performance as their desktop counterparts, further reducing the value proposition for laptops for consumers who don’t require a reliable portable system. However, for anyone in need of a fast PC they can take anywhere, current-gen laptops do still present a great experience. And, with every passing generation, more and more compromises are being dealt with to bring it closer to the experience consumers expect from a desktop.
Why You Can Trust Us
Our editorial team of hardware enthusiasts work hard to ensure that all of the products we get in our offices are thoroughly tested. For those interested in learning more about our team, head over to the About Us section, where you’ll also find more detail about our editorial promise.
How We Tested the Best 13th Gen Laptops
In order to test and evaluate the best 13th-Gen laptops, these are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Component Choices
- Performance
- Configuration Synergy
- Build Quality
- Aesthetic
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best Overall 13th Gen Laptop: MSI Vector GP77
The MSI Vector GP77 offers the ideal balance of performance and other features, all at a very attractive price for a PC boasting a Core i7 CPU and an RTX 4070. Be it the remarkable display, the plentiful IO, or the overall great aesthetic, this laptop offers everything gamers require on the go, without much in the way of compromise.
Read our full MSI Gaming Laptop coverage, or Buy the MSI Vector GP77 on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Customise My Gaming Laptop?
After purchase, a laptop can be customised in many ways in terms of both hardware and software. Other aspects of the model, such as the display, CPU, or GPU, can’t be changed or upgraded most of the time.
Is a Laptop Easy to Disassemble?
Most laptops, especially those which feature user-upgradable parts such as RAM or storage, are very easy and safe to disassemble. However, this varies greatly between manufacturers.
Are Laptop GPUs Different to Desktop GPUs?
Laptops use mobile variants of GPUs, meaning that even if they have the same may, they can feature much lower core counts and boost clocks. They may even have significantly lower memory capacity.
Can I Overclock My Laptop CPU?
Most laptop CPUs can’t be overclocked due to the very strict thermal requirements present in mobile devices. However there are exceptions to this rule, and it varies greatly by model.
